Difference between revisions of "1951 AHSME Problems/Problem 30"
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==Solution== | ==Solution== | ||
The two pole formula says this height is half the harmonic mean of the heights of the two poles. (The distance between the poles is irrelevant.) So the answer is <math>\frac1{\frac1{20}+\frac1{80}}</math>, or <math>\frac1{\frac1{16}}=\boxed{16 \textbf{ (C)}}</math>. | The two pole formula says this height is half the harmonic mean of the heights of the two poles. (The distance between the poles is irrelevant.) So the answer is <math>\frac1{\frac1{20}+\frac1{80}}</math>, or <math>\frac1{\frac1{16}}=\boxed{16 \textbf{ (C)}}</math>. | ||
| + | ==Solution== | ||
| + | The two lines can be represented as <math>y=\frac{-x}{5}+20</math> and <math>y=\frac{4x}{5}</math>. | ||
| + | Solving the system, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <math>\frac{-x}{5}+20=\frac{4x}{5}</math> | ||
| + | |||
| + | <math>20=x</math> | ||
| + | |||
| + | So the lines meet at an <math>x-coordinate</math> of 20. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Solving for the height they meet, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <math>y=\frac{4\cdot 20}{5}</math> | ||
| + | |||
| + | <math>y=16</math> | ||
== See Also == | == See Also == | ||
Revision as of 19:24, 19 March 2017
Contents
Problem
If two poles 
and 
high are 
apart, then the height of the intersection of the lines joining the top of each pole to the foot of the opposite pole is:
Solution
The two pole formula says this height is half the harmonic mean of the heights of the two poles. (The distance between the poles is irrelevant.) So the answer is 
, or 
.
Solution
The two lines can be represented as 
and 
.
Solving the system,
So the lines meet at an 
of 20.
Solving for the height they meet,
See Also
| 1951 AHSC (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | ||
| Preceded by Problem 29 |
Followed by Problem 31 | |
| 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50 | ||
| All AHSME Problems and Solutions | ||
The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. 
